Szwydek 5K Race Next Month

Preregistration forms accepted through 3-26

By Chanin Rotz-Mountz

STAFF WRITER

Steven Szwydek With more than 120 individuals preregistering to participate in the 2011 Szwydek 5K run/walk, event organizers are hopeful next month’s third annual race will meet if not exceed their prior year’s goals.

Scheduled for Saturday, April 21, at 9 a.m. this year’s memorial race organized to honor late Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Szwydek of Warfordsburg will be held at McConnellsburg High School.

The race route will begin in front of the high school following the school’s driveway and heading right onto East Maple Street. Participants will then turn right onto Cito Road and right again onto Fulton Drive. A turnaround will be marked on Fulton Drive where race day participants will turn around for their return trek to the school.

Interested participants may register at the event on April 21 beginning at 7:45 a.m. for a fee of $20. Pregistration is also accepted between now and March 26 for $15.

Registration forms may be obtained by contacting Nancy Szwydek at 717-294-6774. Forms and registration fees can be sent directly to Semper Fi Memorial 5K Run/Walk at 276 Mays Chapel Road, Warfordsburg, PA 17267.

Patriotic race day T-shirts are also available through the preregistration process and may be available for purchase the day of the race on a first come, first served basis. Local businesses and residents interested in serving as race-day sponsors will have their name placed on the back of the race-day T-shirts. Sponsorships range in price.

In addition to taking home a patriotic race day shirt, some lucky racers will also take home the gold, so to speak. Medals will be bestowed on the top-two runners in each of the following categories: 18 and under; 19 to 29; 30 to 39; 40 to 49; and 50 and over. Medals will also be presented to the oldest and youngest participant.

The Semper Fi Memorial was established in 2006 following the death of local resident Szwydek, who was fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device while on his second tour of duty in Iraq.

Memorial funds are earmarked for junior students enrolled at the local high schools to take an annual pilgrimage to Arlington National Cemetery and the Washington, D.C., area. While there students experience firsthand the cost of freedom and get an appreciation for the sacrifices of the U.S. military.